How Much Harm Could Car Wobbling Be?
Does your car vibrate, shake, wobble, or otherwise move around in strange ways for a slightly rough ride? It could be a tire problem or an engine stabilization issue, both with consequences that could be much bigger repairs later on. To avoid emergencies on the highway or even accidents as a sudden failure happens at high speeds, consider a few wobbling car problems and ways that a mechanic could help.
Tire Vibrations And Excessive Wear
One of the more common, easily understood wobbling car problems is tire wobble. It could be from a flat tire caused by a puncture or other leak, or from a "knot" in the tire caused by air leaking from the inner part of the tire to the outside, hard rubber part in the form of a bump or bubble that shakes as it rolls across the road.
Tire replacement is in the future for most tire wobble problems, but how soon? For flat tires, the problem could be a change of temperature that results in expanding or contracting material, allowing some air to leak out that can be filled with no consequence. In the case of punctures, your tire can be patched until you can afford a replacement, but the tire is in danger of leaking or popping on the road.
Knots in tires are major issues that could result in splitting or complete tears on the road. The knot is a bubble that hits the road unevenly from the rest of the tire, resulting in tears in a concentrated area. Tires are multi-layered rubber and metal wire structures that can survive a bit of wear and tear, but aside from severe punctures, these knots tearing apart are the source of many shredded tires seen on the highway.
Visit a mechanic to take a look at the problem. A mechanic can suggest temporary fixes if a new tire isn't viable for you right now, along with an unofficial estimate of how long you can last. Don't rely on estimates alone and make plans to either get new tires or pursue legal actions if your area is prone to puncture problems, such as the mistakes of a construction company that should be compensated.
Engine Shaking And Full-Vehicle Vibrations
The engine is built and secured to be as stable as possible, despite the high power pistons and other moving parts under the hood. Unfortunately, wear and tear of restraints or failing components can send your vehicle into a rattling spiral of expensive repairs.
One of the more common problems with a shaking engine is a faulty mass air sensor. Not all vehicles have mass air sensors, but they're common enough to at least ask about. These components control the amount of oxygen that is mixed in with fuel to create the combustion needed for your vehicle to operate and can fail either because of faulty filters, pipeline issues, or computer failure.
Mass air sensors are computer-controlled devices that have sturdy housing, but the air transfer is a bit weak in many vehicles. In many cases, the air pipeline is a thin, plastic hose that could barely be considered a tube. It can be torn easily if the housing is exposed, which happens whenever a pothole, speed bump, or rough road is drastic enough to cause the bottom of the car to hit the road or something hard.
Contact a mechanic to look through the mass air sensor or other components that could shake the car and lead to faster wear and tear.
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